Strictly’s Annabel Croft calls emotional tribute to late husband ‘out of body experience’ as she battles grief on show
ANNABEL Croft has opened up about how she felt while performing her latest dance on Strictly as a tribute to her late husband.
The former tennis player is one of the contestants on this year’s series of the BBC One dancing show.
Her husband Mel Coleman tragically passed away from cancer in early 2023, and she dedicated her couple’s choice dance to him.
The judges were left with tears in their eyes when Annabel blew a kiss to the sky after her emotional performance.
While appearing on spin off show Strictly: It Takes Two with pro dancer Johannes Radebe, she shared that doing the dance was an “out of body experience”.
The 57-year-old said: “It was very emotional but I probably didn’t realise when we were in it how much the significance of it would resonate with so many people.
“I have been quite overwhelmed by the response to it. When we were in it I felt like it was almost an out of body experience.”
She also added that her dancing partner Johannes understands grief too, and she couldn’t picture sharing that moment with anyone but him.
The widow previously said that going on Strictly Come Dancing has helped distract her from the pain of losing a loved one.
She told The Mirror: “I just love the fact that it just takes you away to a different place, trying something completely different, but also try and let go and try to be in the moment.
“We’re trying to get there, I don’t think I’ve got there yet.
“But try to feel the music and start to, once you’ve got the steps, then just to let go of everything and just dance and just be free in your spirit. And it is very joyful. It does take me back to my childhood a little bit.”